August 2, 2019 - ChaddsFordLive.com

PennDOT to close Route 52 bridge in Birmingham

Lenape Bridge Closeure — PennDOT to close Route 52 bridge in Birmingham

PennDOT will be closing the Route 52 (Lenape Road) bridge over the Brandywine Creek Floodplain in Birmingham Township, beginning Aug. 19 through May, 2020.

“This bridge rehabilitation will provide needed safety improvements to motorists while maintaining its historical integrity and aesthetics,” said Gov. Tom Wolf in a press release.

PennDOT will repair, strengthen and restore the deteriorating seven-span, stone masonry arch bridge by removing the bituminous pavement and earth fill; removing and salvaging the parapet stones, capstones and pipe railing; rebuilding deteriorated portions of the spandrel and wing walls; constructing a full-width concrete slab with integral concrete barriers faced with stone from the bridge; reinstalling masonry capstones with repainted pipe railing; repointing the masonry as required; salvaging and resetting the bridge plaque; and installing brown painted guide rail.

In addition, the contractor will rebuild the stone walls at the north end of the bridge at the Route 52 and Creek Road intersection and move the walls a bit further away from the intersection to provide additional room for vehicular turning moves.

Built in 1912, this stone masonry bridge is 342 feet long and 24 feet wide stone.

On Monday, Aug. 19, Route 52 will close between Pocopson Road and Creek Road. During the closure, Route 52 motorists will be detoured over Pocopson Road, Route 926 and Birmingham Road.

Before the closure and detour is implemented, traffic signal work, including timing modifications, will take place at the intersections listed below, with limited impact to motorists:

Temporary advanced left turn light to be installed on eastbound Route 926 at Birmingham Road;

Temporary advanced left turn light to be installed on southbound Route 52 at Birmingham Road; and

Permanent flashing yellow left turn arrow to be installed on eastbound Route 926 for left turns onto northbound Pocopson Road.

As construction progresses, Creek Road will also close for approximately seven months later this year, between Route 926 and Route 52 During the closure, Creek Road motorists will be detoured over Route 926 Birmingham Road and Route 52.

Local access will be maintained up to the work zone for both closures. Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling near the work areas because backups and delays will occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent and subject to change.

Loftus Construction Inc. is the general contractor on the $3,439,000 project which is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds. The entire project is expected to finish in summer 2020.

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Fatal overdoses up in Chester County

Along the Ford

The Chester County Coroner’s Office is releasing data on drug overdose deaths in Chester County from January 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019. A total of 65 people have been confirmed to have died of a drug overdose during this period, with 62 deaths determined to be accidental and 3 due to suicide. While this is slightly more than the 57 overdose deaths reported mid-way through 2018, the Coroner’s Office cautions that it is not possible to accurately predict a total for all of 2019.

In 2018, Pennsylvania had the third highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country, but overall overdose deaths decreased last year. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention data, Pennsylvania saw an 18.8 percent decrease in overdose deaths in 2018. Chester County was one of many counties contributing to that welcome decrease. The Coroner’s Office reported 112 accidental overdose deaths in 2018, a 22 percent drop from 2017.

The demographic profile of those who have died of an accidental drug overdose so far in 2019 is similar to that of previous years, with the affected population remaining predominantly male (77 percent), white (80 percent), and in the 25-44 year age range.

Toxicological tests show that fentanyl, a synthetic opioid found in almost 76 percent of our cases, continues to be the predominant drug responsible for overdose deaths in Chester County. No other substance comes close but most fatalities involve multiple drugs, both illicit and prescription. Heroin, the next most common drug, was present in 22.6 percent of Chester County cases. Acetyl fentanyl, another synthetic opioid, and xylazine, a large animal anesthetic, were both found in 19.4 percent of cases, always in combination with fentanyl. The Coroner’s Office issued a statement about xylazine when it first appeared in Chester County overdose deaths early this year. Ethanol (alcohol) and prescription benzodiazepines like alprazolam were found in 17.7 percent and 16.1 percent of cases, respectively. So far this year cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine have been detected in less than 15 percent of drug deaths.

Drug	2019 YTD (N=62)
Fentanyl	75.8%
Heroin	22.6%
Acetyl fentanyl Xylazine	19.4% 19.4%
Ethanol	17.7%
Benzodiazepines	16.1%

According to Chester County Coroner Dr. Christina VandePol, “People in Chester County continue to die from drug overdoses largely due to the super-strong opioid fentanyl. This is not your prescription painkiller, it’s an illegal street drug often substituted for heroin. The 2018 drop in deaths is encouraging, but the recent up-tick shows we can’t relax prevention, law enforcement, or treatment approaches in an effort to bring an end to this epidemic.”

VandePol also noted “The number of drug deaths continues to challenge the resources of many coroner and medical examiner offices, including ours. Nevertheless, we remain committed to supporting law enforcement efforts, providing answers for families, and reporting accurate and current data by performing an autopsy and toxicology testing in suspected drug overdose deaths. We communicate information on these and other deaths on our website, and to many other agencies, including Chester County Drug and Alcohol Services, the District Attorney’s Office, the Chester County and PA Departments of Health, and http://www.overdosefreepa.org.”

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Donnan Martin of Kennettn Square

Obituaries

Donnan Martin, 86, died in his home in Kennett Square, on July 30.

Donnan was born in Jacksonville, Fla. and was a graduate of Andover Academy, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Delaware. Donnan led a full and interesting life. He was a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy, worked for the duPont Company for more than 30 years, and ran a successful business into his 80s.

Donnan was married to his sweetheart, Hazel, for 55 years until her death in 2010. Donnan made life-long friends during every phase of his life, often travelling for visits, hosting guests in his home, enjoying a meal, or just picking up the phone to keep in touch. And he could tell stories, oh the stories — like how, as a young man, he sang at Carnegie Hall.

Donnan was predeceased by his loving wife Hazel, and beautiful daughters Marilyn, Judy, and Nancy. Donnan is survived by his daughter Suzanna (John) of Florence, N.J., grandsons Scott (Alexandra) of Wrightstown, N.J., and Eric of Philadelphia, granddaughter Charlotte of Brooklyn, N.Y., and great-grandchildren Gabriella, Jack Donnan, and Audrey.

Special appreciation goes to the terrific group of people who provided loving care and comfort to Donnan.

Friends are invited to share memories of Donnan at The Kennett Square Inn at noon, on Saturday, Sept. 28. Burial services will be private.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, giving.tsalliance.org, 801 Roeder Road, Suite 750, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4487

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com

Arrangements by the Kuzo Funeral Home, Kennett Square.

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Roadwork for Aug. 3-Aug. 9

Along the Ford

PennDOT has announced the following road projects, which are weather-dependent and could affect residents in the greater Chadds Ford area during the week of Aug. 3-Aug. 9. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones. Work schedules are subject to change.

• Milling and paving will cause lane restrictions on Route 202, between Concord Country Club Road and Dilworthtown Road in Chadds Ford Township from Aug. 4-9.

• Utility pole replacement will cause lane closures on Pocopson Road — between Street and Parkerville Roads in Pocopson Township — through Oct. 1.

• Motorists should expect flagging on Price Stree t— between Darlington and Church Streets in West Chester — on Aug. 5.

• Bridge replacement continues to cause road closure on Boot Road — between King Road and Pottstown Pike in West Chester — through Aug. 25.

• Deck construction will cause weekday lane closures on Route 100 — between the Pottstown Pike offramp and the Kirkland Avenue overpass in West Chester — July 20 through Aug. 30.

• Alternating lane closures are scheduled next week on Route 202 at the Pleasant Grove Road intersection in Westtown Township for temporary traffic signal installation. PennDOT is installing the temporary traffic signal to help alleviate congestion during construction of a new connector road between West Pleasant Grove Road and Stetson School Drive by the township. The temporary signal is expected to remain in place until the project’s completion in late August.

• Barrier installation will cause lane closures on Brandywine Creek Road between Green Valley Road and Powell Road in Newlin Township through June 2020.

• Road reconstruction will close Spring Valley Road— between Conchester Highway and Concord Road — in Concord Township through April 30, 2020. Detours will be posted.

• Lane restrictions on the Conchester Highway, between Routes 1 and Clayton Park Drive will continue through Oct. 20, 2020 for reconstruction and widening.

• Motorists will continue to encounter periodic lane closures on Route 1 between Greenwood Road and Route 52 in Kennett Township through mid-August for overhead bridge repairs.

• Weekday lane closures are planned for Route 41 — Gap Newport Road— between Newark Road and New Garden Road in New Garden Township through July for road work, part of a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit.

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